They blame planning hold-ups, preventing a move to smaller premises near the harbour, and delaying selling off their existing home, in Mill Street.

Falling membership, the smoking ban, and a leaking roof have also pushed the club into this crisis.

The legion is having to appeal for members' help, with letters sent out to each member, asking them to donate £100 from their own pockets to help clear debts and rescue the club.

A final decision on the venue's fate will be taken on August 22.

Declining membership and rising costs have pushed the social club to the brink, admits the club secretary.

The number of legion members has fallen sharply in recent years from around 600 to just 300, creating an average monthly shortfall of around £1,000 in takings.

Club secretary Les Chalmers explained the problems that have beset the social club.

He said: "The club's in financial difficulties, not serious, but financial difficulties.

"It's due to the down-turn in trade, and numbers of people coming into the club.

"We're not making enough at the bar. We weren't taking enough during the week, so we closed it Monday to Thursday to see if that would help.

"The smoking ban has hit the machines. Before the ban, people would go across to the machines for a smoke and put a couple of pounds in. They don't do that any more; they go outside.

"The only upside is the bingo, it's doing well. But, of course, bingo can't keep the club going.

"We've got a nucleus of some great guys coming in here. They're the ones that are keeping the club open – but it's not enough.

"The staff here are doing a fantastic job, too – they're really working their socks off."

He added that there were serious problems with the deteriorating condition of the property, particularly the roof.

He showed the "Banffshire Journal" the sagging and ruptured ceilings in the dance hall, where buckets sit out awaiting the next rains.

He said: "We've got a problem with the flat roof – the water's pouring in through it and it's beginning to sag. I don't see it holding up for another winter.

"Also, the building's got old style heating, and we can't see it lasting another winter."

Les Chalmers, secretary of the Macduff branch of the Royal British Legion, is hoping members can raise £20,000 to save the Mill Street social club, until they can move to new premises in Shore Street.

Mr Chalmers says that the legion hopes to raise £20,000 through its appeal to help the club manage its debt and continue operating until a move to new premises can be secured.

He explained: "We have sent a letter out to every member, asking if they would donate £100 to clear the debt.

"If two thirds of our members donate £100, that's £20,000; that would help clear some of the debt.

"I'm optimistic that we'll get the £20,000 – I've got to be optimistic.

"If we take the debt out, we can live on the overdraft until we move.

"If we don't get the money, the club will close and we'll have to build up funds to move into the new place."

The club's closure would be a blow for legion members, but would not spell the end of the Macduff branch.

Regardless of the outcome of August's decision on the Mill Street venue, the social club will be on the move at some point in the future.

The legion's long-term aim is to relocate to smaller premises on Shore Street once planning issues are resolved.

"We should have been in there (Shore Street) by now, but because of the hold-up with planning, it's been put back – but we can't wait that long any more.

"There are a lot of advantages to the new place. It's more central and close to the harbour, so we'll get passing trade from people just walking past.

"It's a smaller place and more modern. We'll only have one snooker table, rather than three, but otherwise we'll still have the same facilities.

"We're downsizing, so it will be a lot easier to manage."

An offer has been received for the Mill Street building, but it is dependent on the social club moving to Shore Street. The legion had hoped to be in their new premises by November 1, but it now looks likely it will be at least a year later than that.

The Mill Street social club has been used by the Macduff Legion for over 40 years.

shepherd_e@spp-group.com

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